Looking for Love
The Twilight world belongs to Stephenie Meyer. I just like to play in it.
Chapter 3 – Working for Free and Not Working
Charlie studied Bella for a few seconds. "You might want to make them feel welcome. I'm sure you remember what it's like to be new," he said.
"Yeah, I do and I will," she replied.
Bella's phone buzzed with a text from Angela. I love it, Angela wrote. Do you think they'll still have it this weekend?
Bella smiled.
She sent Angela a text reply. I'm sure there will be one. Are you ready for today?
Ready as I'll ever be, came Angela's reply.
Today was the day Forks High was open for a local festival. Every year, tourists came by the hundreds through the small town for a literary festival. The Chamber of Commerce and School Board had decided to take advantage of all the activity and hold a school fundraiser. That meant booths to set up, food to sell, and tours to give. The cheerleaders got to wear their uniforms, while everyone else was supposed to wear Forks High School t-shirts or other attire. This year, Angela had convinced Bella to sign up to help work the concession stand with her.
So after breakfast, Bella picked up Angela and they went to buy soda and ice from the Thriftway for the concession stand. As they exited the market through the automatic doors, the rain started up again. They raced to the truck and lugged their soda and ice out of the shopping cart into Bella's truck bed in the light drizzle.
"We should have asked for help with these," Angela grumbled.
"Did you see who was bagging the groceries?" Bella asked.
"No," Angela said as she pushed the cart to the nearest cart collection area.
"Rich," Bella said.
Angela rolled her eyes and giggled. Rich, one of the stock boys, had been trying to ask Bella out. "He has to be, what, almost twenty?" Angela asked. "He graduated at least two years ago." It was gross, the girls agreed.
As the two girls got into the truck, Bella saw Angele trying to wipe the rain from her coat before she sat down.
"Don't worry about it," Bella said. "I put down a beach towel to absorb the water."
"Yeah," Angela said. "A My Pretty Pony beach towel." They burst out laughing.
Bella had found the in the linen closet when she was organizing it. Since it wasn't exactly Charlie's style, she guessed that Renee must have sent it with Bella when she was younger and Charlie kept it. Bella suspected that Charlie kept everything Renee sent or had ever touched. He had never gotten over her.
Bella looked over at the towel. Renee had definitely gotten over Charlie. Love could be so uneven and unfair. Would she ever meet anyone who might love her? Or would she be stuck like Charlie, loving someone without hope of return?
Maybe she would meet someone when she went to college.
Trying to put aside such morbid thoughts, she drove to the high school.
Once there, they had help unloading their groceries. Very unexpected help.
First, the rain slowed to a stop. Angela and Bella knew it was just a short break, so they both jumped out of the truck cab and raced around to the back.
Then, as they unlocked the back of the truck, a girl appeared next to the truck. Or bounced up next to them was a more apt description. She was small, elfish looking, with short black hair and a bright smile. She looked like she had stepped out of the pages of a fashion magazine. More Vogue than Seventeen, though.
"Hi, I'm Alice," the girl said.
"Um, hi," Bella replied.
"Hello," Angela said,
"My family just moved here a few days ago," Alice said. "We're starting at the high school on Monday."
"You're Dr. Cullens' daughter?" Bella asked. When the pixie nodded, Bella continued. "I'm Bella and this is Angela," Bella replied. "So, are you all moved in?"
Alice sighed. "Still unpacking and can't find anything." She giggled. "You need help with that soda and ice?"
"I think we got it," Bella said, taking in Alice's lack of height.
"Not me, my brother," Alice replied. She turned. "Emmet," she ordered.
An enormous guy wearing a white track suit strolled up. He gave a snappy mock salute. "Your orders, ma'am?" he said.
Alice put her hands on her hips. "Be serious. We need this soda and ice inside the school, now."
Emmet picked up three 24-packs of soda, holding one under his arm like a football, and set off for the nearest open door.
Bella and Angela stood and watched, mouths open. They had never seen anyone that big up close before.
"The ice, please?" Alice said.
That's when Bella saw him. A tall blond guy, standing behind them, his hand gripping the top of the truck bed.
Bella was gob smacked. As gorgeous as Alice was, Jasper was even more so. Tall, slender but muscled, with a handsome chiseled face and piercing blue-purple eyes with dark shadows under the eyes.
"Jasper," Alice said, making the salutation almost a question.
Bella thought that his eyes and expression meant he was fighting something.
"I'm sure Angela and I can take care of the rest," Bella said, reaching for the ice.
At this, Jasper stepped forward and held out his hand to Bella. She put out her hand and he took it gently, just using his fingertips which were icy cold. He bent low over her hand. "Miss Swan," he said, looking up at her from his bow.
"Bella," she said, replying as she usually did when someone called her Isabella. Her head was swimming, dizzy. It was the same cloud of emotions she had felt the other night by the school. Wait, how did he know my name?
"Miss Bella," Jasper replied and smiled. He stood up and stepped back. "A pleasure," he said.
Bella felt a head rush and realized she was a little unsteady on her feet. Alice grabbed her arm to steady her, flashing a glance at her brother. "This ice will melt if you don't get a move on. Or should I carry it?"
"No, ma'am," Jasper said. He picked up the four bags of ice. "Ladies," he said. "Lead on."
The rain started again, a sheet of wind blowing it in their faces, and the sound of the rain drops coming down harder not far behind.
"Um, the concession stand is this way," Bella stammered, trying to remember her own name. "We should get out of the rain." Stupid! Say something smart!
Alice giggled, "Well, let's go then."
Bella let Alice drag her away, with Jasper and Angela tagging along behind. She heard Angela saying, "My name's Angela Weber," to Jasper as they walked side-by-side.
Bella could swear that Jasper's eyes were following her through rest of the day, even though she couldn't always see him. She still had goosebumps from his closeness.
She wasn't the only one having a reaction to newcomers. Everyone was staring at the three Cullen kids. The tourists made excuses to ask the attractive teenagers questions, and as word got out that these were the doctor's kids, the FHS students stared as well.
Emmett sold all of the cookies in a few minutes by standing next to the concession stand and holding them out. People were taking them just to get to say hello. Some of the visitors held out tourist brochures and programs, asking for his autograph. He just grinned and signed whatever was handed to him. Some of the more intrepid ones, after staring at the autograph, then asked who he was. The booming laugh he gave in response echoed down the corridors and brought more people to the concession stand.
A group of the tourists came to the counter, buying Diet Pepsi and bags of chips. Seemed like an odd combination but whatever. It was all money for the school.
Jasper lingered near the concession stand, giving directions to the crowds passing by. His eyes met Bella's occasionally and he smiled. Each time, she blushed and thought her heart would beat out of her chest. Angela's smile never stopped. "Am I making a fool out of myself?" she whispered to Angela.
"I don't think so," Angela whispered back. "I mean, he is looking at you."
Bella's cheeks flushed.
"How much for this cookie?" someone asked, distracting her from the conversation.
"It's a donation," Angela replied for the fortieth time, smiling sweetly. "However much you want to pay. All the money goes to the school."
Time passed quickly and they ran out of food in just a few hours. There was very little left to pack up, and with the three Cullens helping, the cleanup was done quickly. Alice told her brothers what to do and they did it.
As evening fell, Bella climbed into her truck and made the drive to Port Angeles. She was exhausted and not exactly looking forward to the four hours at work, her head still spinning from the encounter with the Cullens. She pulled into the lot as always, finding her usual spot near the exit. It was a bit of a walk to the door, but the employees had been asked to park on the outer edges of the lot to allow customers better parking.
However, normalcy ended when she went to clock in. She was met at the door by Mildred Humdinger, her supervisor, and Mr. Itrahous, the manager. A security guard stood nearby, looking grim, arms crossed in front of his chest.
"Would you come with us, please Miss Swan?" Mildred asked.
Bella's heart pounded. What was this? She hadn't done anything wrong. Wait – had something happened to Charlie and they called the store?
The possibilities swam through her head and she staggered. Mr. Itrahous caught her, a slight scowl flashing across his face. Bella swore the man sniffed her breath as he righted her.
"Are you OK?" he asked.
"Is it my Dad?" Bella gasped. "Did something happen to him?"
Mr. Itrahous's expression changed to genuine worry. "Your father? Is something wrong with your father? Is he ill?"
"He's a police officer, Charlie Swan," Bella replied. "I thought…"
"Nothing about your father, Miss Swan," Mildred Humdinger snapped. "Though he will undoubtedly be interested in.-"
Mr. Itrahous cut her off. "This way please," he said, gesturing for everyone to step into Mildred's office.
Once inside, they all sat down except for the security guard, who placed himself in front of the office door.
"We were reviewing the merchandise and surveillance tapes last night," Mr. Itrahous said. "Employee pilferage is a serious issue. Is there anything you would like to tell us?"
Bella shook her head. "No, sir. I pay for my purchases at the cash register before I start my shift, using my employee discount." What was this?
The security guard dramatically pulled out a tape and put it into Mildred's computer, fast-forwarding it until he found a certain spot then looked at Mr. Itrahous, who nodded. He stepped back.
The three leaned in and looked at the footage, which showed Bella setting aside the gown, looking back and forth before she did so. Uh-oh. She looked guilty.
"Oh," Bella said. "My friend wanted that dress. I wanted to make sure it would be available…"
"So you admit to doing this?" Ms. Humdinger said.
What was this? Had she done something wrong?
Mr. Itrahous brought out the employee handbook and a stack of paper. "Merchandise theft is a serious offense and in violation of store policy. We have no choice but to terminate your employment immediately. Sign here," he said, gesturing to the top piece of paper.
Bella's heart pounded. "I want time to review this."
"What charges we press depend on your cooperation, Miss Swan," Ms. Humdinger said.
"I didn't take anything!" Bella said. "The tapes show that."
"Please consider your options carefully," Mr. Itrahous said.
"I want to talk this over with my father," Bella said.
"Then your employment with the company is terminated," Mr. Itrahous said. "You are barred from re-entering the store."
The security guard escorted her to the door, past the whispering employees. Rita, one of the girls she had sat with the night before, caught her eye and gave her a questioning look, but Bella was still too shocked to respond.
When Bella reached the safety of her beloved beast of a truck, she stood next to it for a few minutes, breathing hard, confused by what had happened.
They hadn't let her explain. All she did was put the dress on another rack among some coats.
Could she have said something differently?
A wind came up, stirring the darkness around her. She thought she sensed a movement behind her so she turned, but didn't see anything. Just the wind blowing a bag or other debris in the shadows.
Shivering, she climbed into her truck and locked the door. She sat behind the wheel for a few minutes but didn't turn on the engine. Finally, she broke down and cried. She thought about calling Charlie but knew he would be writing reports at the station, something he hated to do, and she didn't want to interrupt him. She would drive home and tell him then.
Should she call Angela? What to do?
Were they going to press charges? Would they need a lawyer? Had she really done anything wrong?
Eventually, she turned on the motor and started driving home. A light rain fell, gray across the windshield in the darkness. The wipers kept time, the only sound inside the cab other than her tears. The interior of the truck felt cold and damp. About halfway home, near Lake Crescent, the car shuddered and the motor died. Fortunately, she was near one of the scenic turnouts so she managed to roll the car to a stop off of the 101.
Bella reached into her pocket for her phone. It wasn't there. She patted around her pants then twisted around, patting the truck's bench seat. No cell phone? She looked on the floor, a sense of dread rising.
When was the last time she looked at it? Had they taken it at the store? She was in too much of a muddle to think clearly about the events of the evening. What was she going to do without a cellphone?
It was dark out and definitely too far to walk. She leaned forward and put her head against the steering wheel. Maybe she would just sleep in the cab. When it got light, she would flag a motorist and ask to use their cell phone.
Could this day get any worse?
Xxxxxxxxx
Whoo-hoo! New story for Valentine's Day. Should be five chapters and the last chapter will be posted on Heart Day.
***Whew. Is it hot in here? Could anyone see Jasper removing the hat he wasn't wearing for the lady?***
And, um…did you guys see yourselves in the "literary festival", LOL? Hey, who was that buying the Diet Pepsi?
I usually post Halloween stories in October, but last fall, 2017, I just didn't have anything I thought was good enough to post. This one might be more of a Halloween story, and if it's your preference, swap the hearts for jack-o-lanterns in your head as you read.
(And yes, I know Gottschalks is closed. But I couldn't see setting this story at the Port Angeles Walmart…)
Please leave a review. Reviews make my heart go pitter-pat. I will send a preview of the next chapter to all reviewers…